Announcement of Rachel Barrios-Van Os as candidate for State Chair of Texas Democratic Party
Hell yeah!! I hope my fellow Texas Democrats can help support this worthy candidate and her mission to promote Texas Democrats!
My Fellow Democrats,
My name is Rachel Barrios-Van Os, and I'm a candidate for State Chair of the Texas Democratic Party. I am running for this office for each and every Democrat and future Democrat to come because we need real leadership and we need to start fighting to win. It's a sad day knowing that our democracy is on the line each and every day while the Republicans are in power. We have to start fighting harder, we have to fight for our rights and as your new Chairwoman, I promise that I will fight for you.
It has been way too long since the Democrats have rallied together for a statewide victory. I believe I have the progressive vision, integrity, experience and energy that it's going to take to do just that.
I am the loving wife of three-time statewide Democratic candidate David Van Os, and the mother of four beautiful children, Jay, Kay Cee, Leya and Maya. I have been an activist for the Democratic Party my entire voting life. One of my favorite Democratic Party moments was when I was an active volunteer who helped in 1990 to bring Ann Richards to victory. I joined the Union on my first day on the job in 1980, I was a job steward in my CWA Local Union (Local 6143) in San Antonio, Texas for nearly 17 years, and after switching careers I have stayed active in the labor movement. I was campaign manager and treasurer for David Van Os, twice for Texas Supreme Court (1998 and 2004), and for Attorney General (2006).
During my husband’s 2006 Attorney General run, I felt like we needed to do something different because I didn't think the party would help us because they were not concentrating on the statewide candidates. I recommended to David that we go to each and every county courthouse (all 254 of them) in the state of Texas and speak from the courthouse steps directly to the people, and we did it. We took the campaign to the people and I believe that 's how we should start doing things again, like Texas Democrats used to do in their winning days. Too many Democrats do not feel connected to the Democratic Party anymore and so they choose to stay home and do not participate in the voting process. Well it's time to change that and I'm here to offer my leadership. I'm ready, willing and able to help to turn things around and to help rebuild our party.
Currently, I am the firm administrator, bookkeeper and litigation assistant for a law firm representing labor unions and civil rights. I wear many hats but at the end of the day, I always make sure that the job gets done. When I'm elected to be your next State Party Chair, I will make myself available to work full-time in the office of the Texas Democratic Party. When elected on June 9, 2012, I will be ready to go to work immediately.
Regarding the state of the party, I believe that something is very wrong when we have not won a single statewide office since 1994. Let's not wait another 18 years to start winning again, let's make it happen now. I'm ready to take on that challenge.
I want a party of inclusiveness, I want a party that has its doors open to the public and to any citizen who wants to help fight for the good cause of democracy. I want a party that says, yes we can win and yes, we will win.
I believe that anything is possible once you put your mind to it but most especially, even more so if you put your heart and soul into the things that you believe in and care about. I care about people from all walks of life and I care from my heart about the ideals of a true democracy for all the people.
If you believe as I do, please join me in helping to fight this battle. I need your vote and support to make this happen, I know that together we can do this.
I look forward to seeing you all at the 2012 State Convention. The convention runs from June 7, 2012 through June 9, 2012 and is being held in Houston, Texas. The convention starts its official business on Friday morning. On Saturday, June 9, 2012 the election of state party officers will take place, so make sure to be there so that your vote will count. I hope you'll join me on this day to help make it a new day for all Democrats and a new day, for a real democracy.
If I'm elected as your new State Party Chair, I'll make sure that there will be no Democrat left behind. When we change Texas, we’ll change the world.
Together, we will win!
Juntos, vamos a ganar!
In Unity,
Rachel Barrios-Van Os
512-454-VOTE (8683)
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